Following Her Majesty’s passing on Thursday 8 September 2022, floods of remembrance and condolence messages have been shared online to support the Royal Family and the nation’s grievance. Whilst her influence can be experienced in all facets of political, social, and economic discourse, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s deep impact on the performing arts and theatre spheres reflects her reign as monarch.
Whilst in position, she witnessed the development of theatre and art over seven decades, with this oversight greater apparent following her death. On numerous occasions Her Majesty indulged in spontaneous and private outings to West End performances, viewing productions such as War Horse, Billy Elliot and My Fair Lady.
An onslaught of messages of remembrance and solidarity have been released from theatres across the UK since Thursday, with the Society of London Theatre leading tributes on behalf of London venues.
“The theatre industry is thankful for all the support and patronage Her Majesty has shown throughout her lifetime. We would like to convey our deepest sympathy to the Royal Family at this time of national mourning.”
The Royal Shakespeare Company echoed similar condolences online, including their progression with scheduled performances.
Individual productions have also released statements sharing their support, including Les Misérables and Hamilton, however, these have been subject to public criticism as ironic considering the content and themes within the productions’ material.
Though many theatregoers were concerned that performances would be cancelled, echoing the decisions surrounding sporting events and union striking, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has permitted theatres to remain open during the period of mourning across the UK. As a mark of respect, the Society of London Theatre and UK Theatre have announced that they will dim their lights at 7pm for two minutes each evening, following traditional methods of theatres respecting those passed.
On 19 September, Shakespeare’s Globe and The National Theatre will be closed to mark the funeral. Performances of Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera and Hamiliton will be cancelled, and Les Misérables at Norwich Theatre Royal will be rescheduled to 21 September.
To accommodate the newly appointed monarch, Her Majesty’s Theatre in London will be renamed His Majesty’s Theatre to reflect the reign of His Majesty King Charles III in the upcoming future.
Words by Alanya Smith
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Image Credit: Kiefer. from Frankfurt, Germany, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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